Sen. Sinema (I-AZ)

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s switch from Democrat to Independent is getting some attention. The White House, via the press secretary, released this statement:

Senator Sinema has been a key partner on some of the historic legislation President Biden has championed over the last 20 months, from the American Rescue Plan to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, from the Inflation Reduction Act to the CHIPS and Science Act, from the PACT Act to the Gun Safety Act to the Respect for Marriage Act, and more. We understand that her decision to register as an independent in Arizona does not change the new Democratic majority control of the Senate, and we have every reason to expect that we will continue to work successfully with her.

Which is fine. She's a pest.  As noted in this analysis, she has at various points negotiated in what appears to be bad faith.  

Sinema seems to favor a sort of performance theater (including her outfits, though her office was quite insulted when this was flagged) that really rubs people the wrong way.  Early on, she seemed "hip" in this regard.  Now, it is less beloved.  

I am fine with her wardrobe choices myself.  Who cares what she chooses to wear on the Senate floor, though that one number she had when she voted down a minimum wage hike (her vote didn't matter really) was a dubious choice.  Now, on the filibuster ... 

Her working against filibuster reform, even with respect to voting rights and abortion rights (supporting both on the merits), was bad enough without her sanctimoniously doing so and getting kudos from Mitch McConnell (which she seemed to like) in the process.  

Sinema always seemed to frame herself as some sort of political gadfly. She was in the Green Party and then chose basically a sort of maverick-y approach to replace Senator McCain.  It's Arizona. I get it. And, Democrats will take her 50th and now 51st vote.  She has less seniority in politics than Manchin and Arizona is now a purple state.  But, her winning (barely) in 2018 was a good get.  She ran against some woman military veteran, a Republican already a member of the House.  Seems like a good choice though a few suggest she was somehow a bad candidate. Shrug.  

The times, however, might have passed her by.  As noted here, there really is not a big reason not to support someone else in the 2024 primary.  And, I do not see her as a Lieberman when he ran against Lamont (now the governor of Connecticut).  I doubt Republicans will sign on to her, letting the official Republican swing in the wind.  On that front, I don't want her to run independently in the general.  The Republican can easily win if she manages to get a few percentage points.  It's risky.  

But, I question if she would actually do that.  She has not solely been an independent agent.  She worked within the overall Democratic Party system throughout her career.  Now, maybe, she will go the route of a few Democrats (Tulsi Gabbard) and become a total shill.  She is far from being in that spot yet.  Gabbard always had some conservative troll in her.  

Sinema has shown some shilling for corporate lobbyists but has overall stayed loyal to the liberal brand.  She just co-sponsored the Respect For Marriage Act.  My general sentiment when hearing the news was "who cares?"   As to 2024, Democrats have a lot of other things to worry about.  I would, however, try to find a way to have her go along her way peacefully.  And, she already has framed herself as an "independent," so was quite honest when she said that in her statement.   

If she somehow truly becomes a pain, I'll change my views.  

I had some "someone is wrong on the Internet" annoyed reactions to some comments in that second link regarding Manchin.  Or, should I say a "somewhat more moderate" Democrat.  Okay.  Who is more moderate than Joe Manchin?  

Also, why should we not "vilify" someone who thinks he should veto what 48/49 of the Senate, the House, and the President support, and harm children and other people in the process for what amounts to be stupid reasons?  

As to him negotiating in good faith, I don't know. I recall that President Biden eventually released a statement that suggested he was pissed off.  Biden would not do that unless he thought Manchin crossed some line. Manchin also chose to announce his rejection of a deal on Fox News of all places.  He did various things worthy of strong opposition. 

The analysis (by a serious person, if one I found wrong in the past) notes at one point he is "no saint."  Oh well, no reason for me to dispute such a balanced take. There is also the general idea the problems are "progressives," some of whom (specifics not cited) do not care as much as Manchin for low-income workers.  Seriously?

The idea that sometimes progressives or progressive activists do not "level with" their base about reality might be true to some extent.  I have seen that sentiment in some places, including targeting Biden on the recent railroad worker agreement.  But, at the end of the day, progressives (such as AOC, my representative until the beginning of January) have compromised and gone along.

One [or two]  "progressives" did not think they were better than everyone else, deciding to veto the wishes of the rest of the caucus from the President on down.  Manchin did.  He as a whole remained loyal to the party -- the idea he would suddenly caucus with Republicans to me is stupid -- but on that point, I very well will "vilify" him.

Anyway, let Sinema be an independent along with two others in the Democratic caucus.  Let 2024 deal with itself.  I predict she will choose to find something else to do myself.  If not, well, again, there is a lot more to worry about than that.